V^D^ 



», (I 



190 5 




district or CoimnMa Socfety, 

Sons or tbe American tRevolution* 




febmary, iBfueteeii ftnadrcd and five. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOCIETY, 
SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 



OFFICERS, 

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT, 

AND COMMITTEES. 



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 

OF THE NATIONAL AND 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOCITIES, 



February. 1005. 



.3 



'^^1 






THE STANDARD PRESS, ei9K8TftiET 



©fficer§» 



President. 
MR. JOHN PAUL EARNEJST, 
Chauncey Building. 

Vice-Presidenis. 

COMMANDER JOHN H. MOORE, 

I73S P Street, N. W. 

MTR. HARRY CtAY McLEAN, 

1373 Kenesaw Avenue. 

MR. E. SOUTHARD PARKER, 

1738 Connecticut Avenue. 

Recording Secretary. 

MR. LEON E. E. FRENCH, 

ColumbiSn Building. 

Corresponding Secretary. 

MR. WILEIAM H. PEARCE, 

1737 S Street, N. W. 

Treasurer. 

MR. HENRY P. R. HOET, 

The Gladstone. 

Registrar. 

DR. EDWIN A. HIEE, 

Patent Offke. 

Assistant Registrar. 

DR. ALBERT C. PEAEE, 

National Museum. 

Historian. 

MR. NEWTON L. COLEAMER, 
1006 F Street, K. W. 

Librarian. 

MR. ^EBINA MOSES, 

.711 H Street, N. W. 

Chaplain. 

REV. THOMAS S. CHIEDS, D. D. 

Chevy Chase, D. C. 



2Jiiarh of Mauaijrmrut. 

Consisting of the Officers, ex-officio, and the following 
Compatriots. 

DR. E. M. GALLAUDET. 

MR. THOMAS P. RANDOLPH, 

MR. W. II. P>AYLY, 

MR. FRANCIS E. GRICE, 

C(n,ONEL FREDERICK C. CRYAN, 

MR. SIDNEY I. BESSELIEVRE, 

REAR ADMIRAL THEODORE F. TEWEI.E, 

DR. CHARLES W. RICHARDSON. 

HON. SETH SHEPARD. 

MR. JOHN D. CARMODY, 

MR. W. L. MARSH, 
MR. W. A. DeCAINDRY, 
MR. TOHN B. EARNER, 
GEN. THOMAS U. VINCENT, 
MR. PHILIP WALKER. 



d^nmmittPCH. 

Executive. 
K^HN PAUL EARNEST, President. Chairman. 
DR. i:D\\'ARD M. GALLAl'DET, 
COM. TOHN IT. MOORE, 
TOHN P.. EARNER, 
E. SOUTHARD PARKER, 
HON. SETH SHEPARD. 

Ways and Means. 
DR. TOHN W. BAYNE, Chairm.-in, 
COL. TOHN B. BROVVNLO\\', 
HON. TOHN GOODE, 
WALTER HOUGH, 
COL. GfLBERT C. KNIFFEN, 
TOHN SPEED SMITH, 
P.KAIX.VRD U. W.\RN1-:U. 

BuiLiins. 
FRED. D. OWICN. Chairman. 
Ai^PLl'TON ['. CLARK. TR.. • 
(^ICORC.E (). TOTTEN. fR. 



Library. 
ZKBINA MOSKS, Chairman, 
DR. IRA \V. DENNISON, 
WILLIAM J. RHRES. 

Advancement. 
SIDNEY I. BESSKLIEVRK, Chairman, 
NKWTON W. BROOKS, 
ELIPHALET T. BUSHNELL, 
THEODORE L. COLE, 
PROF. ALFRED L HENRY, 
II. MORRIS HUSBAND, 
JEFFERSON H. JENNINGS, 
PHILIP F. EARNER, 
LISLE S. LIPSCOMB, 
FRANKLIN MACKEY, 
PROF. CHARLES E. MUNROE, 
COL. FELIX A. REEVE, 
WILLIAM B. THOMPSON. 

Meetings. 
WILLIAM HAMILTON BAYLY, Chairman, 
COLONEL FREDERICK C. BRYAN, 
THOMAS W. LOCKWOOD, JR., 
WALLACE DONALD McLEAN, 
DR. WALLACE NEFF, 
WILLIAM H. PEARCE, 
THOMAS P. RANDOLPH. 

Music. 
WILLIAM A. DOMER, Chairman, 
EUGENE E. STEVENS, 
DR. FRANK A. SWARTWOUT. 

Eligibility. 
ROBERT R. BENNETT, Chairman, 
REV. DR. JOHN LOUIS FRENCH, 
ALBERT D. SPANGLER. 

Acceptability. 

WILLIAM A. DeCAINDRY, Chairman, 
PICKERING DODGE, 
FRANCIS H. PARSONS. 

Press. 

EDWARD B. MOORE, Chairman, 
CHARLES A. BOYNTON, 
WILLIAM M. MASON. 



Recruiting. 
PHILIP WALKER. Chairman, 

james a. bailey, 
david w. bell, 
john l brown. 
John doyle carmody, 
murray a. cobb, 
dr. horace coleman, 

ANDREW B, DUVALL, TR., 

SELDEN M. ELY. 

TOHN E. FENWICK, 

ORANGE S. FIRM IN, 

COL. EVERETT W. FOSTER, 

FRANK F. GREENAWALT, 

FOvSTER R. GREENE. 

WILLIAM E. HARRISON, 

RICHARD P. HAWES, 

EDWIN STANTON HENRY, 

SAMUEL HERRICK, 

DR. LOREN B. T. TOHNSON, 

CRANDAL MACKEY, 

EBKNE-?ER E. MASON. 

LEONARD A. MERRITT, 

BENJAMIN MILLER, 

LANODON MOORE, 

WILLIAM W. W. PARKER, 

DR. STARR PARSONS. 

RUNNTON M. PATRICK, 

EDSON PHILLIPS. 

THOMAS R. RAINES, 

HENRY W. REED, 

DR. CHARLKS W. RICHARDSON, 

MASON N. RICHARDSON, 

WILLI. AM D. SEARLE, 

HENRY SEYMOUR. 

DR. D. KERFOOT SHUTE. 

FRANK BIRGE SMITH. 

W H.LI AM H. SOMERVELL. 

WATTSTILL H. SWENARTON, 

ARTHUR H. TIRRELL. 

WILLIAM E. TODD, JR., 

DR. TOSEPH S. WALL, 

FLETCHER WHITE, 

LLOYD B. WIGHT, 

LFEUT. DOWNS L. WILSON. 



National Society. 
Sons of the American Revolution. 
CONSTITUTION, 

ARTICLE I. 

NAMe, 

The name of this Society shall be "ThK Sons 
01* THic American Revoi.ution/-' 

ARTICLE IL 

OBjiiC'rs. 
The objects of this Society shall be to perpetuate 
the memory of the men who, by their services or 
sacrifices during the war of the American Revo- 
lution, achieved the independence of the American 
people; to unite and promote fellowship among 
their descendants ; lo inspire them and the com- 
munity at large with a more profound reverence 
for the principles of the government founded by 
our forefathers; to eiicourage historical research 
in relation to the American Revolution; to acquire 
and preserve the records of the individual services 
of the patriots of the war, as well as documents, 
relics and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the 



8 CONSTITUTION— NATIONAL SOCIETY. 

Rejvolution by appropriate memorials ; to celebrate 
the anniversaries of the prominent events of the 
war and of the Revolutionary period ; to foster 
true patriotism; to maintain and extend the in- 
stitutions of American freedom; and to carry out 
the purposes expressed in the Preamble to the 
Constitution of our Country and the injunctions 
of Washington in his Farewell Address to the 
American people. 

ARTICLE III. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Section I. Any man shalT be eligible to mem- 
bership in this Society who, being of the age of 
twenty-one years or over, and a citizen of good re- 
pute in the community, is the lineal descendant of an 
ancestor who was at all times unfailing in his 
loyalty to, and rendered actual service in, tl»e 
oause of American Independence, either as an 
officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or 
rainute-man, in the armed forces of the Continen- 
tal Congress or of any one of the several Colonies 
or States; or as a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence; or as a member of a Committee 
©f Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of 
any Continental, Provincial or Colonial Congress 
©r Legislature; or as a civil officer, either of one 
of the Colonies or States or of the National Gov- 



CONSTITUTION -NATIONAL SOCIETY. 9 

ernment; or as a recognized patriot who per- 
formed actual sevice by overt acts of resistance to 
tlie authority of Great Britain. 

Sec. II. Apphcations for membership shall be 
made to any State Society, in duplicate, upon 
blank forms prescribed by the General Board of 
Managers, and shall in each case set forth the 
name, occupation and residence of the applicant, 
line of descent, and the name, residence and ser- 
vices of his ancestor or ancestors in the Revolu- 
tion, from whom he derives eligibility. The ap- 
plicant shall make oath that the statements of 
his application are true, to the best of his knowl- 
edge and belief. Upon the approval of an appli- 
cation by the State Society, to which it is made, 
one copy shall be transmitted to the Registrar- 
General of the National Society, who shall ex- 
amine further the eligibility of the applicant. If 
satisfied that the member is not eligible, he shall 
return the application for correction. And in case 
of such return the State Society shall, on failure 
to satisfy the Registrar-General of the eligibility 
of such applicant, drop his name from member- 
ship. 

Sec. hi. Theofiicial designation of the members 
of the Society of the Sons of the American Revo- 
lution shall be "Compatriots." 



10 cox STIT LTTION - N AT ION AL SO(; J ET Y . 
ARTICLE IV. 

XATIOXAL AND STATE SOCIETIES. 

Section I. The National Society shall embrace 
all the members of the State Societies of the Sons 
of the American Revolution now existing or which 
may hereafter be established under this Consti- 
tution. 

Sec. II. Whenever in any State or Territory in 
which a State Society does not exist, or in which 
a State Society has become inactive or failed for 
two years to pay its annual dues to the National 
Society, fifteen or more persons duly qualified for 
membership in this Society may associate them- 
selves as a State Society of the Sons of the Am- 
erican Revolution, and organize in accordance 
with this Constitution, they may be admitted by 
the General Board of Managers to the National 

Society as "The Society of the Sons of the 

American Revolution," and shall thereafter have 
exclusive local jurisdiction in the State or Terri- 
tory or in the District in which they are organ- 
ized, subject to the provisions of this Constitution; 
but this provision shall not be construed so as to 
exclude the admission of members living in other 
States. 

Sec. III. Each State Society shall judge of 
the qualifications of its members and of those 
proposed for membership, subject to the provis- 



COS STl T UTION— N ATION AL SOC I ET Y. 1 1 

10HS of this Constitution, anxl shall regulate all 
matters pertaining to its own affairs. It shall 
liave authority to establish local chapters within 
Its own jurisdiction and to endow the chapters 
■with such power as it may deem proper, not in- 
consistent with this Constitution. It shall have 
authority, after due notice and impartial trial, to 
expel any member who, by conduct unbecoming 
a gentleman, shall render himself unworthy to re- 
3nain a member of the Societ3^ 

Six. IV. Each State Society shall submit to the 
Annual Congress of the National Society a report, 
setting forth by name the additions, transfers and 
<leaths, and any other changes in the membership 
and progress of the State Society during the pre- 
ceding year, and make such suggestions as it shall 
•deem proper for the promotion of the objects of 
the whole Order. 

Sec. V. Whenever a member in good standing 
in his Society changes his residence from the 
jurisdiction of the State Society of which he is 
a member to that of another, he shall be entitled, 
if he so elects, to a certificate of honorable dismis- 
sion from his own State Society, in order that he 
may be transferred to the State Society to whose 
jurisdiction he has changed his residence; pro- 
vided, that liis membership shall continue in the 
fomier until he shall have been elected a member 



12 CONSTITUTION— NATIONAL SOCIETV. 

of the latter. Each State vSociety shall, however, 
retain full control of the admission of members by 
transfer. 

Sec. VI. Whenever the word "State" occurs in 
this Constitution, it shall be held to include within 
its meaning the District of Columbia and the Ter- 
ritories of the United States. 

Sec. VII. A Society may be formed in any for- 
eign country . by fifteen or more persons who are 
eligible to membership under this Constitution, 
which shall bear the:isame relation to the Nationa/ 
organization as the State Society, subject to the 
provisions of this Constitution. . 

ARTICLE V. V 

OFEICERS AND MANAGERS. 

Section I. The General . OfficeTs of the. National 
Society shall be a President-General,, five Vice- 
Presidents-G^neral, a Secretary-General, Treasurer- 
General, Registrar-General, Historian-General, and 
Chaplain-General, who shall be elected by ballot 
l)y a vote of the majority of the members present 
at the annual meeting of the Coiigress of the Na- 
tional Society, and shall hold office for one year 
and until their successors are^' elected. 

Sec. II. The General Officers, together with the 
Presidents of the State Societies, ex officio, shall 
constitute the General Board of Managers of the 



CCl)NSTrTUTI(0:N— INATIONAL SOCIETY. 13 

National Society, which Board shall have authority 
to adopt and promulgate the By-Laws of the Na- 
tional .Society, to prescribe the duties of the Gen- 
eral Officers, to provide the seal, to designate and 
make regulations for the issue of the insignia, and 
to transact the general business of the National 
Society during the intervals between the sessions 
of the Congress. Meetings of the General Board 
may be held, after not less than ten days' notice, 
at the call of the President-General, or, in case 
of his absence or inability, at the call of the Sen- 
ior Vice-President-Geineral, certified by the Sec- 
retary-General. Meetings shall be called at the 
request of seven members. At such meetings 
seven shall constitute a quorum. 

Sec. III. An Executive Committee of seven, of 
whom the President-General shall be chairman, 
may be elected by the Board of Managers, which 
committee shall, in the interim between the meet- 
ings of the Board, transact such business as may 
be delegated to it by the Board of Managers. 

ARTICLE VL 

DUUS. 

Each State Society shall pay annually to the 
Treasurer-General, to defray the expenses of the 
National Society, twenty-five cents for each active 
menibcl- thereof, unless intermitted by the Na- 



14 CONSTITUTION—NATIONAL SOCIETY. 

lional Congress, p-rovided that the National Board 
of Management may increase said dues at any 
time, not to exceed fifty cents in all, by a two- 
thirds vote, when the necessities of the National 
Society so demand. All such dues shall be paid 
on or before the first day of April in each year 
for the ensuing year, in order to secure representa- 
tion in the Congress of the National vSociety. 

ARTICLE VII. 

MEETINGS AND EIJECTIONS. 

Section I. The Annual Congress of the Na- 
tional Society for the election of the General Offi- 
cers and for the transaction of business shall be 
held on the thirtieth day of April or on the first day 
of May in eveTy year. The time, hour and place 
of such meeting shall be designated by the Board 
of Managers. 

Sec. II. Special meetings of the Congress may 
be called by the President-General and shall be 
called by him when directed so to do by the Board 
of Managers, or whenever requested in writing 
so to do by at least five State Societies, on giving 
thirty days' notice, specifying the time and place 
of such meeting and the business to be transacted. 

Sec. III. The following shall be members of 
all such annual or special meetings of the Congress, 
and shall be entitled to vote therein : 



CONSTITUTION— NATIONAL SOCIETY. 15 

(i) All the officers and ex-Presidetnts-General 
of the National Society. 

(2) The President and Senior Vice-President 
of each State Society. 

(3) One delegate at large from each State So- 
ciety. 

(4) One delegate from every fifty members of 
the Society within a State and for a fraction of 
twenty-five or over. 

Sec. IV. State Societies shall be represented 
at meetings of the National Society only by mem- 
bers of their own State Society, or by members of 
other Stjite Societies who may be designated by 
the regularly appointed delegates from such State 
Society who may be present at any meeting of the 
National Society ; and the delegates representing 
any State Society, as provided herein, shall be 
authorized to cast the entire vote to which such 
State Society is entitled, each delegate or represen- 
tative present being authorized to cast his propor- 
tionate vote, or fraction thereof. 

ARTICLE VIIL 

AMENDMENTS. 

This Constitution may be altered or amended at 
any meeting of the Congress of the National So- 
ciety, provided that sixty days' notice of the pro- 
posed alterations or amendments, which shall first 
have been recommended by a State Society, or by 
a prior Congress, or by the Executive Committee 
of the National Society, shall be sent by the Sec- 
retary-General to the President of each State So- 
ciety. A vote of two-thirds of those present shall 
be necessary to their adoption. 



National Society, 

Sons of the American Revolution. 

BY-LAWS. 



ARTICLE I. 

KLECTION OF OFFICERS. 

All nominations of officers shall be made from 
the floor, and the election shall be by ballot. A 
majorit}'* shall elect. The norninations m;ay be 
acted opon directly, or may be referred to a com- 
mittee to examine and report. 

ARTICLE IL 

OFFICERS. 

The duties of the General Officers shall be such 
as usually appertain to their offices, and they 
shall have such other duties as are hereinafter 
imposed. They shall report at the annual meeting, 
and at such other times as they may be required 
to do. so by the General Board of Managers. 



rS BY-LAWS— NATIONAL SOCIETY. 

ARTICLE TIL 

PRESIDENT-GENERAL. 

Section I. The President General, in addition 
to his general duties, shall be ex offcio chairman 
of the General Board of Managers and of the 
Executive Committee, and a member of every 
other committee. 

Sec. II. At each Annual Meeting he shall ap- 
point the following Standing Colnmittees : 
Committee on Auditing, 

" Correspondence, 
" " Credentials, 

" " Finance, 

" " Organization, 

'' Unfinished Business. 
The duties of the above committees shall be such 
as usually pertain to committees of like character, 
and such as may be defined by the Board of Man- 
agers, 

ARTICLE IV. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS-GENERAE. 

Section I. In the absence of the President-Gen- 
eral, the Senior Vice-President-General present 
shall preside at the Annual Meeting. 

Sec. II. In the prolonged absence or inability 
to act of the President-General, the executive au- 
thority shall be vested in the Vice-President-Gen- 
cral first in order of precedence. 



BY-LAWS— NATIONAL SOCIKTY. 1\) 

ARTICLE V. 

SKCRETARY-GENERAL. 

The Secretary-General, in addition to his general 
duties, shall have charge of the seal, give due notice 
of all meetings of the National Society or General 
Board of Managers, of which he shall be ex officio 
a member. He shall give due notice to all gen- 
eral officers and State Societies of all votes, orders 
and proceedings affecting or appertaining to their 
duties. He shall distribute all pamphlets, circu- 
lars, rosettes and supplies, as directed by the Gen- 
eral Board of Managers. 

ARTICLE VL 

TR1-ASURER-GENERAI« 

Section L The Treasurer-General shall collect 
and receive the funds and securities of the Na- 
tional Society. He shall deposit the same to the 
credit of the "Sons of the American Revoeution/' 
and shall draw them thence for the use of the 
National Society, as directed by it or by the Gen- 
eral Board of Managers, upon the order of the 
President-General, countersigned -by the Secretary- 
General. His accounts shall be audited by a com- 
mittee to be appointed at the Annual Meeting. 

Sec. II. He shall, if so required by the General 
Board of Ivlanagers or the Executive Committee, 
give bonds for the safe custody and application 
of the funds. 



20 BY-LAWS— NATIONAL SOCTETY, 

ARTICLE VIL 

RKGISTRAR-<)ENERAI„ 

The Registrar-General shall keep a Register 
of the names and dates of the etectJon, resig- 
nation or death of all meml>ers of the several 
State Societies, •ani^ r'-^z" have uie care anu cus- 
tody of all duplicate applications for membership; 
He shall issue, upon the requisition of the Sec- 
retary or Registrar of the several State Societies,, 
certificates of membership and insignia to every 
member entitled thereto, through such Secretary of 
Kegistrar. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

HISTORIAN-GENERAL. 

The Historian-General shall have the custody 
of all the historical and biographical collections 
of which the National Society may become pos- 
sessed, and shall catalogue and arrange the same, 
and shall place the same in a fire-proof repository 
for preservation.' 

ARTICLE IX. 

GHAPEAIN-GENERAL. 

The Chaplain-General shall be a regularly or- 
dained minister, and shall open and close all gener- 
al meetings of the National Sodety with the ser- 
vices usual and proper on such occasions. 



BY-LAWS- NATIONAL SOCIETY. 21 
ARTICLE X. 

STATE SOClETies. 
\ Every State Society shall — 

<i) Notify the Secretary-General of the elec- 
tion and appointment of all officers and delegates, 

(2) Pay to the Treasurer General on the first 
•day of March, ar within sixty days thereafter, the 
sum of twenty-tive cents for each active member 
thereol 

(J) ' Transmit to the Registrar-General dupli- 
cate^ applications f all accepted members, and no- 
tify him of the resigiiation or death of all niera- 
ibers thereol 

ARTICLE XL 

r^KNKRAL I50-\RD OF MANAGERS, 

Mixtion I. The General Board of Managers 
:-shall prepare and carry out plans for promoting 
die objects and growth of the Society! shall gen- 
erally superintend its interests, and shall execute 
such other duties as sliall be coraraitted to it 
at any meeting of the National Society. It shall 
have charge of the printing of tlae Diploma and 
the naanufacturing of the Insignia, and shall deter- 
mine the price at which the same^shall be issued. 

Sec. II. It shall have authority to admit or re- 
forgani^e as a State Society any association of 
fifteen or more persons duly qualified for member- 
>^hip in the Societ}'. 



22 IIV^LAWS— NATK)NAf. SOCIt^TY. 

Sec. in. It shall have power to fill any va- 
cancy occurring among the General Officers, and 
an officer so elected shall act until the following 
annual election and until his successor shall be 
elected. 

vSkc. IV. It shall have authority to make, alter 
and amend the By-Laws as hereinafter provided. 

Sec. V. The President-General may call meet- 
ings of the General Board of Managers at any 
time he may deem necessary, and shall call such 
meeting upon the vi^ritten request of any five men^ 
t>ers thereof, provided that not less than five day^' 
notice of the time and place of such meeting shall 
be given; 

ARTICLE Xll. 

Executive committee. 

The President-General may call a meeting of the 
Executive Committee at any time, and shall call 
.such meeting on the written request of three 
members thereof. 

ARTICLE XHL 

SEAL. 

The seal of the Society shall be two and three- 
eighths of an inch in diameter, charged with the 
figure of a minute-man, grasping a musket in his 
right hand, and surrounded by a constellation of 
thirteen stars, wTio shall be depicted in the habit 



BY-LAWS- NATIONAL SOCIETY. 23 

of a husbandman of the period of the American 
Revohition, and as in the act of deserting the 
plough for the service of his country; the whole 
encircled b}' a band three-eighths of an inch wide, 
within which shall appear the legend, "National 
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 
organized April 30, 1889." 

ARTICLE XIV. 

CERTIFICATES. 

All members of this Society, wherever admitted, 
shall be entitled to a certificate of membership 
duly attested by the President-General, Secretary- 
General and Registrar-General, countersigned by 
the President, Secretary and Registrar of the State 
Society to which such member shall have been 
admitted. 

ARTICLE XV. 

INSIGNIA. 

The insignia of the Society shall comprise (i) 
a cross surmounted by an eagle in gold, (2) a 
rosette. 

Section I. The cross shall be of silver, with 
four arms, covered with white enamel and eight 
gold points, same size as a Chevaliers' Cross of 
the Legion of Honor of France, with a gold 
medallion in the center bearing on the obverse a 
bust of Washington in profile, and on the reverse 



BY-LAWS— NATIONAL SOCIETY. 



the figure of a minute-man, surrounded by a rib- 
bon enameled blue, with the motto : "Libertas et 
Pat via' on the obverse, and the legend "Sons of 
the American Revolution" on the reverse, both in 
letters of gold. The cross shall be surmounted 
by an eagle in gold, and the whole decoration 
suspended from a ring of gold by a ribbon of deep 
blue, with white and buff edges, and may be worn 
by any member of the Society on ceremonial oc- 
casions only, and shall be carried on the left breast, 
or at the collar if an officer of the National Society, 
or the President, active or past, of a State Society. 
".Sec. II. The rosette shall be seven-sixteenths 
of an inch in diameter, of usual pattern, displaying 
the colors of the Society, blue, white and buff, 
and may be worn by all members at discretion 
in the upper left-hand buttonhole of the coat. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

INDEBTEDNESS. 

No debts shall be contracted on behalf of the 
National Society. Every obligation for the pay- 
ment of money, except checks drawn against de- 
posits, executed in the name or on behalf of the 
National Society shall be null and void. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

These By-Laws may be altered or amended by 
a vote of three-fourths of the members present 
at any meeting of the General Board of Managers, 
notice thereof having been given at a previous 
meeting. 



District of Columbia Societu, 
Sons of the American Revolution. 

CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE I. 

NAME. 

The name of this Society shall be The District 
OF Columbia Society oe the Sons of the Ameri- 
can Revolution. 

ARTICLE II. 

OBJECTS. 

The objects o^ this Society shall be to perpetuate 
the memory of the men, who, by their services of 
sacrifices during the war of the American Revolu- 
tion, achieved the Indepeiidence of the American 
people ; to unite and promote fellowship among their 
descendants; to inspire them and the community at 
large with a more profound reverence for the 
principles of the Government founded by our fore- 
fathers; to encourage historical research in re- 
lation to the American Revolution; to acquire and 



28 C-OXSTITUTI()N-D. C. SOCIETY. 

preserve the records of the individual services of 
the patriots of the War, as well as docuraeiits, 
relics and landmarks; to mark the scenes of the 
Revolution "by appropriate memorials ; to celebrate 
the anniversaries of the prominent events of the 
War; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and ex- 
tend the institutions of American freedom ; and to 
carry on tlie purposes expressed in the preamble 
to the Constitution of our country and the injunc- 
tions of Washington in his farewell address to the 
American people, 

ARTICLE III. 

MEMBERSHIP, 

Section I. Any man shall be eligible to member- 
ship who, being of the age of twenty-one years or 
over and a citizen of good repuate in the community, 
is the Hneal descendant of an ancestor who was at 
all times unfailing in his loyalty to and rendered 
actual service in the cause of American Independ- 
ence, either as an officer, soldier, seaman, marine, 
militiaman or minute-man, in the armed forces of 
the Continental Congress or of an3^ one of. the 
several Colonies or States ; or as a signer ^ of the 
Declaration of Independence; or as a member of 
a Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as 
a member of any Centinental, Provincial or Colonial 
Congress or Legislature ; or as a civil officer, either 
6i one of the Colonies or States or of the National 



CONSTITUTION— D. C, SOCIETY. 20 

Government ; or as a recognized patriot who per- 
formed actual service by overt acts of resistance 
to the authority of Great Britain. He may be 
elected a member of this Society, provided that, 
upon due investigation, he shall be found to be ac- 
ceptable. 

Sec. II. Applications for membership shall be 
made in duplicate, upon blank forms prescribed by 
the General Board of Managers of the National 
Society, and shall in each case set forth the name, 
occupation and residence of the applicant, his line 
of descent, and the name, residence and services 
of his ancestor or ancestors in the Revolution from 
whom^ he derives eligibility. The applicant shall 
make oath that Ihe statements of his application 
are true, according to the best of his knowledge 
and belief. His application shall be endorsed 
by two members of the Society, shall be accom- 
panied by a letter from at least one compatriot, and 
shall be subject to such other requireiments as may 
be prescribed by the rules or by-laws of the Society. 

Sec. III. Sons of Revolutionary soldiers who 
are regularly accepted by the Board of Manage- 
ment, upon the recommendation of the proper com* 
mittees, may be made honorary members of the 
Society without payment ,of dues. 

Sec. IV. Any Senator or Representative, or 
officer in the civil, military or naval service of 
the United States, officially residing in Washing- 



30 CONSTITUTIOX-D. C. SOCIETY. 

ton, or any officer in the Diplomatic service of the 
Government of the United States, who is a mem- 
ber in good standing of the State Society of the 
Sons of the American Revolution, may be elected 
to associate membership in this Society. 

Members of State Societies of the Sons of the 
American Revolution, while residing in the District 
of Columbia and upon election by the Board of 
Management, may be enrolled as Associate mem- 
bers of this Society. 

Sec. V. Whenever a member in good standing 
changes his residence to the jurisdiction of 
another State Society he shall be entitled, if he so 
elects, to a certificate of honorable demissibn, in 
order that he may be transferred to said Society; 
provided that no such certificate shall be given 
unless all dues and fees are paid, and said mem- 
bership in this Society shall not cease until mem- 
bership in the State Society shall be established. 

Sec. VI. If for any reason a member resigns 
or is dropped from the rolls of the Society, the 
number of his insignia shall be cancelled, and his 
name shall no longer appear in the year book 
of the Society. 

ARTICLE IV. 

OFEICERS AND MANAGERS. 

Section I. The Officers of the Society shall 
be a President, a Senior \'ice-President, a Seconfl 



CONSTITUTION— D. C. SOCIETY. 31 

and a Third Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, 
a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, a Reg- 
istrar, an Assistant Registrar, a Historian, a 
Librarian and a Chaplain, who shall be elected at 
the annual meeting of the Society, and who shall 
hold office for one year, or until their successors 
shall be elected, and who, with fifteen other mem- 
bers, shall consti<^ute the Board of Management; 
provided, that the President and Vice-Presidents 
shall not be eligible for election for more than 
two successive terms ; provided further, that the 
numerical order of the Vice-Presidents shall be 
determined by the number of votes cast for each ; 
the one receiving the highest majority being the 
Senior Vice-President, the one receiving the next 
highest the Second Vice-President, and the one re- 
ceiving the next highest the Third Vice-Pres- 
ident; and provided further, that the term 
of each of the fifteen members of the Board 
of Management hereinabove referred to shall 
be three years from the date of his elec- 
tion, and that the fifteen shall continue, as 
heretofore, to be arranged in classes of five so that 
the terms of the five who have completed their 
three years of service shall expire at each annual 
meeting, at which their successors shall be elected. 
Vacancies in the Board of Management shall be 
filled by the Society for the unexpired term. 



32 COXSTITUTTON— D. C. SOCIETV, 

Sec. II. All nominations for officers shall be 
made* from the floor and not by committee, and 
all elections to office shall be by ballot. The persons 
receiving the majority of all the votes cast shall 
be declared elected, snd shall hold ofiice for tne 
ensumg term or until their successors shall be 
elected. 

Sec III. Delegates to the Congress of the So- 
ciety shall be elected at each annual meeting, in 
accordance with the requirements of the Constitu- 
tion of the National Society, who shall hold office 
till their successors are duly elected and qualified. 

Sec. IV. An Executive Committee of five, of 
which the President of the Society shall be the 
chairman, may be elected by the Board of Man- 
agement from their number, who shall, in the in- 
terim between the meetings of the Board, 
transact such business as shall be delegated to it 
by the Board of Management. Three members 
shall be a quorum of the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE V. . 

FEES AND DUES. 

Section I. The initiation fee shall be five dollars 
($5.00) ; the annual dues three dollars ($3.00) ; or 
the payment at one time of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall 
constitute a life member with ejxemption from 
payment of dues thereafter. Members of the 



coxsTcrrriox— D. r. society. :\:\ 

''Sons of the Revolution" who join this Society 
will be exempt from the payment of an initiation 
fee. provided they are eligible and ac<:eptable mi- 
der the Constitution of this Society. Young men 
who are members of the Society of the Children 
of the American Revolution in the . District of 
Columbia may. on coming of lawful age, 
be admitted without payment of initiation fee, pro- 
vided they are similarly eligible and acceptable. 
When a member is elected after the annual meet- 
ing his dues for the remainder of that year shall 
be at the rate of twenty-five cents per month. 

Sec. II. The annual dues shall be payable in 
advance on the twenty-second day of February in 
each year. 

Sec. III. When the dues of any member shall 
remain unpaid for nine months, the Treasurer shall 
give him notice that unless the same be paid with- 
in, three months thereafter, his membership shall 
cease ; and in case such dues are not paid pursu- 
iint to' such notice, or the default be satisfactorily 
'accounted folr . to the Board of Management, he 
shall- thereupon cease to be a member. 

Sec. IV. The receipts each year from initiation 
fees, r iife-membersbip fees, and dues, constituting 
the aggregate annual resources of the Society, shall 
be devoted by the Board of Management to the 
following .objects, and no. others, viz.: 



34 CONSTITUTION- D. C. SOCIETY. 

1. Payment of the annual dues to the National 
Society of (not to exceed) fifty cents for each 
active member. 

2. Maintenance of a building fund, by the in- 
vestment of not less than ten per cent, of the ag- 
gregate annual resources of the Society in such 
securities as the Board of Management shall 
direct. 

,5. Payment of current expenses. 

4. Publication of such documents as may be 
deemed advisable. 

5. Payment of such special expenses as may 
be authorized by the vote of two-thirds of the 
Board of Management; but if from the report of 
the Treasurer at any time, it shall appear to be 
likely that there will be a balance against the 
Treasurer at the annual meeting if all the liabili- 
ties of the year are met, no appropriation of money 
shall be made by the Board of Management for 
any object but the necessary current expenses of 
the vSociety while such likelihood shall continue to 
exist. 

Sii:c. V. No vote of the Society, whereby any 
expenditure from the general funds of the So- 
ciety or from the building fuiid, of any borrowing 
of money, directly 6r indirectl5^,' oh the credit of 
the, vSociety, shall be calised, shall be passed except 
at a stated or special rrieeting of 'the Society at 
which at least fifty' members shall be present, and 



CONSTITUTION— D. C. SOCIETY. .T. 

two-thirds of those present shall vote in favor 
thereof, nor until the subject has been previously 
referred to the Board of Management for recom- 
mendation and they shall have reported their opin- 
ion thereon, which report shall be made at the 
stated meeting next after the reference, or at a 
special meeting called for the purpose. 

^ ARTICLE VI. 

THK BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. 

The Board of Management shall consist of the 
President, Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, 
Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, 
Assistant Registrar, Historian, Librarian, Chaplain, 
ex-officio, and fifteen members who shall be 
elected as herein provided. 

This Board shall judge of the qualifications of 
the candidates for admission to the Society and 
elect the same ; and may establish local chapters 
with such powers as it may deem proper within 
its jurisdiction not inconsistent with the Consti- 
tution of the National Society ; and may expel 
any member, after due notice and impartial trial, 
who by conduct unbecoming a gentlc^man shall 
render himself unworthy to remain a member, sub- 
ject to appeal to the Society; and shall have charge 
of all meetings; shall recommend plans for pro- 
moting the objects of the Society; shall digest 



:;() CONBTITUTION— D. C. SOCIETY. 

and prepare business ; and shall authorize the dis- 
bursement and expenditure of unappropriated 
money in the treasury for the payment of current 
expenses;: and generally superintend all the inter- 
ests of the . Society and execute all such duties as 
may be committed to it by the Society. It shall 
make, through . the President, a general report 
of its transactions at the annual meeting of the 
Society. 

At all meetings of the Board of Manage- 
ment, five or more shall be sufficient for the trans- 
action of business. 

ARTICLE VII. 

MEETINGS. 

Section I. The annual meeting for the elec- 
tion of officers and transaction of business shall 
be held at noon on the 22nd day of February, the 
anniversary of the birth of George Washington, in 
every year, except when that date sliall fall on 
Sunday, in which case the meeting shall be held 
on the following day. 

Sec. II. Special meetings may be called by the 
President or Board of Management at any time 
for business purposes or for the purpose of cele- 
brating events of the Revolution or other patriotic 
e^^ents, or devising means for the prosecution of 
patriotic work. The President shall call a special 



CONSTITUTION-D. C SOCIETY'. ' 37 

meeting whenever requested in writing so to do 
by five or more members. 

Skc. III. Generar ^business may be transacted 
at any special meeting. 

Sec. IV. Thirteen members shall constitute a 
quorum at all meetings. Ayes and noes shall be 
called at any meeting of the Society upon the de- 
mand of five members. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Amendments to this Constitution or to the By- 
Laws may be offered at any meeting of the So- 
ciety, but shall not be acted on until the next meet- 
ing. A copy of every proposed amendment shall 
be sent to each member, with a notice of the 
meeting at which the same is to be acted on, at 
least one week prier to said meeting. A vote of 
two-thirds of those present shall be necessary to 
the adoption of any amendments. 



District of Columbia Society. 

Sons of the American Revolution, 

BY-LAWS. 



SECTION I. 

ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 

Any applicant for admission to this Society shall 
file with the Registrar his application as prescribed 
in the Constitution, together with such documents 
and other proofs of qualification as he may have, 
and the initiation fee ($5 oo) ; also a letter from 
the member proposing the name stating his know- 
ledge of the applicant. These papers shall be re- 
ferred to the Committee on Eligibility. If found 
eligible the papers shall be referred to the Com- 
mittee on Acceptability. The Board may then 
elect him as a member of the Society or otherwise 
dispose of his application, and if his eligibility 
is approved by the Board and by the Registrar- 
General of the National Society he shall be entitled 
to all the privileges of a compatriot therein. If 
for any reason he is not approved as a metnber 
his papers and ititiation fee shall be returned. 



40 ^ BY-LAWS— D. C. SOCIETY. 
SECTION II. 

THE PRESIDENT. 

The President, or in his absence a Vice-Presi- 
dent, or in his absence a Chairman pro tempore, 
shall preside at all meetings of the Society and 
Board of Management, and have a casting vote. 
He shall exercise the usual functions of a presid- 
ing officer, and shall enforce strict observance of 
the Constitution and By-Laws and of the regular 
tions and rules of the Society. 

SECTION ILL 

THE SECRETARIES. 

The Recording Secretary shall have charge of 
the seal, certificate of incorporation, by-laws and 
records of the Society, and together with the pre- 
siding officer, shall certify all acts of the Society. 
He shall keep fair and accurate records of all the 
proceedings and orders of the Society; and shall 
give notice to the several officers of all votes, 
orders, resolves and proceedings of the Society 
.iffecting them or appertaining to their respective 
duties. > 

He shall notify all members of their election 
ayd shall under the direction of the President or 
\ ice-President, give due notice of the time and 
l)lace of all meetings of the Society, and attend the 
same. 



BY-LAWS- D. C. S(x;il/JY. 41 

The CorrespoHding Secretary shall conduct the 
general correspondence of the Society under the 
direction of the President, and assist the Record- 
iHg Secretary in his duties, and do such other 
acts as may be directed by the Board of Manage- 
ment. 

SECTION IV. 

THE TREASURER. 

The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds 
and securities of the Society; they shall be de- 
posited in some bank or savings iastitution in this 
District to the creidit of The District of Columbia 
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 
and shall be drawn thence on the check ei the 
Treaswrer for such purposes and in such sums only 
as may be ordered by vote of the Board of Man- 
agement or by special vote of the Society under 
Section V of Article V of the Constitution. His 
vouchers shall bear the approval of the Presi- 
dent and Secretary of the Society. He shall keep 
a true account of his receipts and payments, and 
from time to time shall make report thereof to 
the Board of Management as it may direct, a«d 
at each annual meeting shall render an annual 
account of the same to the Society, which shall 
be referred to the Ways and Means Committee for 
examination and report. 



42 BY-XiAWS-D. C. SOCIETY. 

SECTION V. 

THE REGISTRAR. 

The Registrar shall keep a roll of members, and 
in his hands shall be lodged all the proofg of 
membership qualification, and all the historical 
and genealogical papers, manuscript or other, of 
which the Society may become possessed; and un- 
der the direction of the Board of Management, 
shall keep copies of such similar documents as the 
owners thereof may not be willing to leave per- 
manently iji the keeping of the Society. He shall 
verify all statements of the Revolutionary services 
of ancestors that may be made in the applications 
for membership, and make report to the Board of 
Management. 

SECTION VI. 
The historian. 

The Historian shall keep the records of the his- 
torical and commemorative meetings of the So- 
ciety, and shall supervise the preparation and 
printing of all its historical publications, othA- 
than those of the membership rolls. 

He shall submit at each annual meeting a list 
of the members who may have died during the 
year, accompanied by biographical memoirs. 

SECTION VII. 

THE LIliRARIAN. 

The Librarian shall have charge of the books, 
pamphlets, etc., belonging to or deposited with the 
Society, and shall keep suitable records and cata- 
logues of the same under the direction of the Lib- 
rary Cnnnniitce. 



]n^LAWS-D. C. SOCIETY. 43 

SECTION VIII. 

COMMITTEES. 

As soon as practicable after his election the 
President shall appoint the following standing com- 
mittees, the members of which shall serve for one 
year, or until their successors are appointed, viz: 

1. Ways and Means Committee, consisting of 
seven members, who shall perform the duties of a 
finance committee, and shall have charge of all 
measures for raising the necessary means for 
carrying on the business of the Society, including 
the subject of initiation fees and dues. This com- 
mittee shall audit the Treasurer's accounts. 

2. Building Committee, consisting of three 
members. 

3. Library Committee, consisting of three mem- 
bers, who shall have charge of the library and 
relics and rooms of the Society, and the super- 
vision of such publications as may be authorized 
by the Society. 

4. Advancement Committee, consisting of 
thirteen members, who shall consider, and from 
time to time report to the Board of Management 
such measures as in their opinion are calculated 
to advance the interests and promote the general 
welfare of the Society, 

5. Meetings Committee, consisting of seven 
members, who shall have charge of all arrange- 



44 BY-LAWS— D. C. SOCIETY. 

ments for meetings or outings of the Society which 
may involve extra expense for either transporta- 
tion, . entertainments or refreshments. 

6. Bligibility Committee, consisting of three 
members, who shall, after careful scrutiny of the 
record of each applicant for membership, endorse 
their conclusions upon the application papers and 
transmit the papers to the Committee on Accept- 
ability. 

7. Acceptability Committee, consisting of three 
members, who shall, after due inquiry into the 
character and standing of each applicant, endorse 
their recommendations upon the application papers, 
and transmit the papers to the Secretary for the 
action of the Board. 

8. Recruiting Committee, consisting of forty- 
four members, who shall be a lookout committee 
for securing accessions to the membership of the 
Society. 

9. Press Committee, consisting of three mem- 
bers, who shall be charged with all matters for 
publication concerning the Society in which the 
public press may be considered to be interested. 

10. Music Committee, consisting of three mem- 
bers, whose duty it shall h& to have charge of 
the arrangements for the music at all meetings of 
the Society. 

In the absence from the city of members of the 
foregoing committees, the President is authorized 



BY-LAWS— D. C. SOCIETY. 45 

to appoint temporarily, in any case, a sufficient 
number of members to complete a quorum ; and 
he is authorized to appoint at any time, for tem- 
porary purposes, special commiittees, at the re- 
quest of the Board of Management. 

SECTION IX. 

FORM FOR INSTALLATION OF COMPATRIOTS. 

The Presiding Officer shall say : 

"The gentlemen who have been elected members 
since the last installation will present themselves." 

The compatriots who endorsed the applications 
m these cases will escort the gentlemen to the 
Chair under the direction of the Committee on 
Acceptability. 

The Presiding Officer will then say to the newly 
elected members : 

"Gentlemen: The interests, objects and princi- 
ples of this Society are committed to our united 
care. We are pledged 'to cherish, maintain and 
extend the institutions of American freedom, to 
foster true patriotism and love of country, and to 
aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of 
liberty.' Do you so pledge yourselves?'' 

Answer : "We do." 

The Presiding Officer will then say : 

"The Compatriots of the Society of the Sons 
of the American Revolution will rise. Your 
properly constituted authorities have, after due 
care, recommended and elected the gentlemen 
present ; and they are now formally accepted as 
Compatriots of this Society." 

The members of the Society will then say : 

"Compatriots, we welcome you most heartily.'' 



NOTICF:. 

Application blanks will be furnjshed by the 
Registrar, or Recording Secretary, to whom, when 
r^nipleted, in duplicate, they should be returned. 

In filling out the blanks full names are to be 
given and no initials are to be used. 

In stating the line of descent the maiden name 
of mothers, grandmothers, etc., are always to be 
given. 

Certificates of Membership may be obtained 
from the National Society upon application to the 
Registrar, by the payment of $1.25. 

The Cross of the Society is made of sterling silver 
eoverod with gold, and is sold by J. E. Caldwell & 
Co., Philadelphia, Penn., for $9.00, upon per- 
mits issued by the Registrar-General, through the 
Registrar of the District of Columbia Society. 

Rosettes are furnished at 2$ cents each by th^ 
Treasurer. 



THE STAMVARt PRESS, 61 » F STREET 



